HOWARDS GROVE – While attempting to implement a new defensive scheme, last year's Howards Grove football team had its fair share of growing pains.

This season, with a year of learning under their belt and nearly four times the amount of returning seniors, the Tigers are hoping the little mistakes are out of their system and they can focus on contending for a Central Lakeshore Conference title after finishing 1-4 last season and 1-8 overall.

"It's a whole different feel out here this year," Howards Grove coach David Schmid said. "We have a lot of the major contributors from last season back, so we have been able to move a lot quicker and we're a lot crisper."

While second team all-conference quarterback Austin Edge is gone after graduating in May, back are nine others who received some form of all-conference accolades.

This should help the team's 4-4 defense — the Tigers used to run a 5-3 prior to the 2013 season — as well as its offense, which Schmid said still has the ability to use spread formations, but will likely remain close to what was utilized last season.

Tasked with making the offense click will be previous backup quarterback Luke Stanczyk, who Schmid said he expects big things from this year. Helping Stanczyk along will be the return of second team all-conference wide receiver Ethan Brinkman, who led the team in receiving last season.

"The kids are much more used to (the offense and defense) now, so that's coming along a lot quicker," Schmid said. "The team is looking pretty good compared to last year. That allows us to be a lot further ahead than we were at this same point last year — we don't have to do as much teaching."

Besides having a senior-laden squad full of leadership, Howards Grove also appears to have decent size along the offensive line. Schmid said the linemen have gelled early and have their blocking assignments down. That said, depth continues to be an issue for the Tigers, with potential injuries a concern for a squad low in numbers.

"The team has come together quickly as a family, which is always a goal," Schmid said. "But, our goals are always the same — win a conference championship, advance into the playoffs. Being a small school, if we can stay injury free, I think we can be competitive this year."